Rich Samuels's Blog, page 2

Giving "Getting What I Deserve" What It Deserves

As I continue in my quest to understand book marketing, particularly as it relates to “Getting What I Deserve,” I realize that I have a lot to learn--if anything, the ROI (Return On Investment) isn’t there yet. In other words, I’ve spent much more on advertising than I’ve received in sales.

I can’t help but ask myself if this is worth the investment. Am I ever going to sell the number of books it will take to turn a profit? Can this work? I realize it takes time to learn the ropes in terms of the types of ads that sell my books, the advertising avenues that work best for me, and simply how I can best reach the readers who will be interested in my books. 

I believe that there’s an audience for any quality book. The trick is connecting with that audience.

I’m going on two months of this commitment, and I’m making important progress.

If you’ve written a story or novel that you’re passionate about, you understand that you feel a certain pride and protectiveness in your protagonist. You also have a belief in their potential.

“Getting What I Deserve,” while it still has a long way to go, has had more interaction, more reviews, and, yes, sold more copies than any of my other books. The ratings and reviews have been especially gratifying, though some expressed some frustration in the shorter length of the story. A lesson for next time!

This is one of the images used in my ads, which also included the book description.

The Facebook ads have been especially motivating as I learn about some of my potential audience. Some of the ads include a question related to the theme of the book: Would you forgive your worst enemy?”

The comments potential readers have left in response to that question are deeply passionate and are usually from those who experienced bullying in the past (some many decades ago). These are just a few of the many I’ve received:

Some are philosophical...

Absolutely! It's not easy but neither is life. You accept forgiveness, it brings healing, peace, and comfort. It's a win situation all the way around

Some Angry...

Never in a million years.

Some are disdainful...

Suck it up, buttercup.

And some are haunted...

It is so hard to forget when you still dream about running from them and I am 70 years old and STILL running. Help me deal with it, please.

“Getting What I Deserve” was originally intended for a young adult audience. The comments and the mini-communities they form encourage me to improve my efforts to reach a wider audience that might benefit from Charlie’s story. 

This response also is valuable in revealing that I'm not necessarily reaching the parents whose children would benefit from this book. I still have work to do!

If you would like to help, please consider passing this book on to a teacher, friend or loved one. You can purchase the paperback right here, or if you prefer Amazon, it's available in ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook. It's also free to read on Kindle Unlimited.

Talking to Charlie: Fictional Reality

 

 

I’m preparing “Getting What I Deserve” for the fall to position it for the coming school year and National Bullying Prevention Month in October. I’ve taken some steps to encourage more reviews (I gave away fifty copies on Goodreads recently—out of over 1048 who entered. It was my most successful giveaway in ten years of using the Goodreads program).

I’m also rolling out availability to other online retailers beyond Amazon and the Shopify store on my website, including Apple, Barnes and Noble, and many others. I’ve redesigned my Etsy page, which was closed for some time, and have made it a destination not only for signed and personalized copies of the book but also for merchandise—it costs nothing to think ahead! I’m also contacting book influencers and offering the book at their request. In short, based on the profound response from initial readers, I believe in the future of this book, and I’m exploring every possible avenue to connect with my audience—both through the book and message. 

Let’s Have a Talk!

Finally, I’ve been experimenting with a few wildly out-of-the-box tools like Character.ai, which allows me to program an AI chatbot with the characteristics and knowledge of my protagonist and enables users to interact with him verbally. Programming knowledge isn’t necessary; this is based on a textual database.

I anticipate using this as a tool to help bring potential readers into the world of the book. I anticipate using this during classroom visits, podcasts, and other public opportunities to discuss “Getting What I Deserve.” I’ve already used it in several social situations with excellent results. It certainly grabs your attention.

Here’s a short conversation with Charlie, the protagonist of “Getting What I Deserve.” It’s important to note that it isn’t scripted. Charlie’s character simply responds as best it can based on information in the database. He becomes humanly expressive only when emotional feedback is relevant, but that technology is steadily improving. Please tell me what you think!  

Talk to Charlie!

 

 

I’m preparing “Getting What I Deserve” for the fall to position it for the coming school year and National Bullying Prevention Month in October. I’ve taken some steps to encourage more reviews (I gave away fifty copies on Goodreads recently—out of over 1048 who entered. It was my most successful giveaway in ten years of using the Goodreads program).

I’m also rolling out availability to other online retailers beyond Amazon and the Shopify store on my website, including Apple, Barnes and Noble, and many others. I’ve redesigned my Etsy page, which was closed for some time, and have made it a destination not only for signed and personalized copies of the book but also for merchandise—it costs nothing to think ahead! I’m also contacting book influencers and offering the book at their request. In short, based on the profound response from initial readers, I believe in the future of this book, and I’m exploring every possible avenue to connect with my audience—both through the book and message. 

Let’s Have a Talk!

Finally, I’ve been experimenting with a few wildly out-of-the-box tools like Character.ai, which allows me to program an AI chatbot with the characteristics and knowledge of my protagonist and enables users to interact with him verbally. Programming knowledge isn’t necessary; this is based on a textual database.

I anticipate using this as a tool to help bring potential readers into the world of the book. I anticipate using this during classroom visits, podcasts, and other public opportunities to discuss “Getting What I Deserve.” I’ve already used it in several social situations with excellent results. It certainly grabs your attention.

Here’s a short conversation with Charlie, the protagonist of “Getting What I Deserve.” It’s important to note that it isn’t scripted. Charlie’s character simply responds as best it can based on information in the database. He becomes humanly expressive only when emotional feedback is relevant, but that technology is steadily improving. Please tell me what you think!  

Why I Wrote This

“Why do you hang out with us? We’re losers!”

For a few months in the mid-2000s, I volunteered at a therapeutic home for young teens recently released from juvenile hall. I visited the facility twice a week for several months to lead a filmmaking workshop, working with selected participants to write and create a half-hour-long video ghost story.

Boys took turns directing, shooting video, acting, operating the microphone boom, and editing. As a group, they wrote the script and improvised the dialogue. Despite their outwardly confident demeanor, most had severe problems with self-esteem and were terrified to try something that tested them, like directing other kids or simply holding the video camera. The possibility of taking on responsibilities that tested them in front of the team made them more hesitant to take on the challenge.

Midway through the process, as they began to work together and trust that I was there for the right reasons, one boy turned to me and asked incredulously, “Why do you hang out with us? We’re losers!” At first, I was startled by the question, but I finally told him, “If you were losers, we couldn’t make this movie, could we?”

Is the book about Rich?

Self-esteem and self-confidence are at the heart of “Getting What I Deserve.” I’ve been asked if this is based on my personal experience. Some readers have felt so personally invested in the story that they’re sympathetic to Charlie and resentful of Mark.

I would never describe myself as having been bullied—certainly not to the extent that Charlie endured. I experienced some bullying incidents and experiences, but I never felt as if I was isolated and friendless. From my adult perspective, I was more typical than I imagined at the time. A bit quirky, perhaps, and not conflict-free, but not the kid that everyone would gang up on. When I heard about or witnessed bullying, I was terrified that it would happen to me.

But I wasn’t a hero, either. For a time, fear kept me from stepping forward to defend bullied kids, thinking that if I put myself on the line, things might go wrong—a belief I can see today was largely unfounded. I sometimes befriended loners, but I also betrayed someone’s trust for no other reason than to insulate myself from perceived bullying. It wasn’t one of my proudest moments. Years later, to his credit, he confronted me and told me what a horrible person I’d been to him.

I also struggled with toxic friendships. Friendships evolve and change when you’re a teenager. Sometimes, friends inexplicably become enemies. For a while, it’s hard to know who’s a friend and who isn’t. And it’s hard to understand why. As children, we believe that the world revolves around us. As teenagers, we want to believe the world revolves around us. As adults, we (usually) realize that the world doesn’t revolve around us and that hostility from another individual has more to do with their personal issues than the situation at hand. Charlie realizes that Mark’s bullying behavior isn’t about him at all—it’s about Mark’s parents.

So, Who is Charlie?

Charlie’s story isn’t biographical or even semi-biographical. It’s an interpretation of experiences and observations I had while growing up as I navigated friendships and slowly developed a healthy sense of self. I hope that young readers realize that once you believe in yourself and understand who you are, it doesn’t matter what people think of you.

The title of “Getting What I Deserve” represents Charlie’s growth from an awkward boy wholly convinced that his immaturity and awkwardness somehow made him deserving of abuse to a boy who realizes that he deserves to be treated with respect and shouldn’t accept anything less.

Inspiring Acceptance in a Judgmental Society: Why I Wrote “SoupChad”

SoupChad is my new book about a boy so obsessed with soup that he starts his own 'Soup Club' in middle school. Ridiculed initially, he soon wins other kids over with his unbounded enthusiasm and penchant for bestowing soup nicknames like Chowder and Matzo Ball on club members. But SoupChad wants more and turns his club members into bullies against kids who think differently: those who prefer salad. Accompanied by eleven illustrations, 'SoupChad' uses humor and allegory to demonstrate the value of learning to accept differences. Tolerance sometimes seems to be a difficult subject to address in a world where intolerance is almost normalized. I'm hoping SoupChad can be helpful in fighting against that.

Why is it challenging to teach acceptance in a Judgmental society?

People are quick to judge others without understanding their situation. This can make it hard for kids to feel accepted, even if they try their best. Additionally, when everyone around them constantly judges others, it can make it difficult for children to see the good in people and appreciate their differences. Adults need to model acceptance and open-mindedness so that kids can learn to do the same. 

Additionally, it is essential to create an environment where children can feel safe to share their opinions and beliefs without fear of judgment. This can be done by encouraging constructive dialogue and listening to each other’s perspectives. It is also important to talk about how everyone has different experiences and that no one way of life or belief system is better than another. By doing this, we can create a more accepting society where everyone feels valued, accepted, and respected regardless of their background or beliefs.

As the leader of the Soup Club, ‘SoupChad’ tries to instill fear in those who disagree with him. At first, he spreads rumors about the dangers of salad. When that doesn’t work, he leads his club members on a campaign of intimidation against kids who disagree with him. But no one likes to be told what to think, and soon, a lunchroom resistance spreads among kids who like lettuce.

But Do Kids Understand Allegory?

Do kids understand allegory? Yes, many children can understand allegory and use it to promote harmony. By understanding allegory, children can see beyond the surface level of differences and appreciate the underlying message of acceptance.

Allegories are stories with “hidden” meanings that can be interpreted to teach a lesson. They've been used for centuries to teach children moral values and help them make sense of the world around them. In a judgmental society, promoting harmony and acceptance is more important than ever. 

My goal in writing SoupChad as an allegory is to encourage children to adopt a more tolerant and open-minded attitude toward others. Hopefully, they'll laugh along the way, too.

Let me know what you think.

Books...and More Books!

 The relaunch of the Alexander Adventures books is only the first step in my new approach to creating and marketing my fictional work.

Inside and out, I’ve redesigned all three Alexander Adventures books to better reflect the style and appeal of similar books in the same genre. Illustrator Sam Rapp has created fantastic new covers and will be contributing to several of my upcoming projects.

I’m working on reworking SoupChad, which will include both new content, a new cover, and hilarious illustrations throughout the book.

SoupChad and Alexander Adventures, by the way, exist in the same world, and if you look carefully, you’ll see that Alexander and his friends appear in SoupChad as well. Everyone’s a student at Wickshire Middle School.

And that’s just the beginning! 

Later this year, I’ll be launching another book series set at Wickshire. Watch for an announcement, coming soon!

This new era in my publishing journey also includes some creative new efforts to bring these books into the hands of kids everywhere - more on that later!

Pro Tip: I’ll soon be releasing some free Wickshire ebooks, too to subscribers of our mailing list! 

Check out trailers for all four books at my brand-new website, RichPerceptions.com

Making 2022 EPIC!

 

At the moment, I'm working on three books, each in varying stages of completion—and at least one planned for release in the first half of 2022. After a break of a couple of years, I'm excited to be returning to the routine and taking up the challenge of getting my books (old and new) into the hands of readers.

In the interim, I've learned a bit about marketing books for my middle grade—young adult readership, and I'm currently devouring a few of the current titles on the subject. The tools available are constantly changing, and I'm determined to "up my game." I like my "back catalog," and I want to make sure they reach the audience I believe they deserve.

I'm in the process of working with a talented artist to redeisgn my existing covers to create something more in keeping with the fun, offbeat spirit of the books. As soon as the redesign of the three books in Alexander Adventures are complete, I'll be introducing the books and the artist.

My plan at the moment is to have all four of my existing books re-designed and in place by early next year, just in time for the release of my newest book (which I'll be teasing shortly). Along with the redesign, I'll be reworking all of the supporting elements (website, Amazon author page, etc.), to reflect this new approach and marketing initiatives.

In "My Epic Life," the final volume of Alexander Adventures, Alexander creates a less-embarassing euphenism for puberty: Emotional and Physical Internal Changes. No euphenisms in 2022—I'm aiming to make phase of my author journey truly EPIC!

I just spent the last hour researching how I could retrie...

I just spent the last hour researching how I could retrieve access to this blog- mission accomplished! Time to straighten things up around here...new books next year!

KID CHEFS LIKE SOUP—AND SOUP BOOKS!

Last year, I released a comedic novel, SoupChad, the tale of a boy who loves soup (and won’t tolerate kids who liked salad). It’s a fun little story, meant as an allegory about intolerance and learning to respect others who might think differently.
But SoupChad’s love of soup, I’ve discovered, is also part of the book’s niche appeal. I've received numerous emails from parents and loved ones of young chefs, expressing their child's excitement at discovering this "tasty" little book.
Kid chefs have developed an affection for this soup-foodie of a thirteen year old.
It’s a golden time for kids who cook, with numerous television programs showing off  the fine culinary skills of boys and girls as they create everything from appetizers to exotic dessert dishes.  Even Chef Gordon Ramsay is prominent in the game, with his Masterchef Junior series,  which just completed its seventh season. Gone, it seems, are the days when most kids were finicky eaters and lacked even a hint of culinary bravery.
SoupChad isn’t a book about cooking—Chad loves soup, but prefers it canned. As kids his age are prone to do, he's gone all-in on his obsession, even creating a “Soup Club” to share his soup-centric world view with doubtful classmates. He annoints club members with club names based on their favorite soup. He’s soon surrounded with kids named Noodle, Spinach and Chowder.
Kid chefs, I’m happy to say, recognize SoupChad as one of their own, while also sympathizing with the salad-loving classmates he faces in a climactic showdown.  In the end, Chad learns that while he can still love soup, there's other food to love, too! 

GigEconomy Challenges: Priming the Pump

Surviving in the Gig Economy means constantly priming the pump. 
My profile on Upwork is always a work in progress as time and new skills develop. I learn new strategies from reviewing profiles of other freelancers. I'm constantly looking for ways to better target the professional/entrepreneurial clients I seek. I read and re-read my profile. Am I pontificating too much? Am I presenting too much information? Present too much of your qualifications 
My "cover letters" on Upwork are always changing, too. They're certainly customized for individual clients, but I also look at better focusing these letters on the specific talents that I offer, and presenting my qualifications not as proof of my abilities, but as an indication of the services I can provide to the client. Again, I'm always looking for better ways to show that I offer quality, client centered services.
Over at Fiverr, where freelancers offer specific gigs, as opposed to seeking out clients who need services, I'lm constantly searching for concepts that would improve the visibility of my gigs. That means finding the right SEO: the keywords and descriptions that help people find my services when searching across the web. I've also discovered that visibility on Fiverr is directly impacted by how often I edit my gigs. Editing the description or other details seems to push my gigs upward and improve my visibility. 
I also look at gig concepts that are "out of the box." Currently, I'm offering this gig on Fiverr: This holiday season, surprise your children with a holiday tale all their own: a short story featuring some traditional elements, and customized touches that make it truly theirs. I'm offering to write a 1,500 word story that incorporates the client's children as characters in a holiday tale with one of several familiar elements (a poor orphan, a Scrooge-like figure unmoved by the holidays, for example). The idea, I hope, has some appeal. I imagine the story as a read-aloud treat sometime after gift-giving; I'll write the stories with that in mind. I'd enjoy creating the tale, and the buyer will have something unique and memorable to add to their holiday season.

My question now: Will people find the gig? I tried titling the gig, "I'll Write a Customized Holiday Story," but decided to switch it to "Christmas Story" as a more likely search term. I'll update the experiment here, and let you know if I receive one order, several orders, or no orders at all. It's worth the experiment, even if it turns out to be a learning experience.
To learn about my latest adventures in the Gig Economy, follow me on Twitter @rickflix